Mountain State Times

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Related Agencies (CJS), announced a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to Concord University aimed at increasing and retaining STEM teachers.

“In order for the United States to have a next generation workforce, we must invest in students early,” Senator Capito said. “I was proud to secure this grant for Concord University to help create a pipeline of new teachers for our rural schools and I am even prouder that they will be learning right here in West Virginia. This project will help rural students get a high-quality education at a young age that will help prepare them for STEM jobs in the future.”

The NSF awarded $2,317,725 to Concord University in Athens, W.Va., for a project titled: “Utilizing Wrap Around Mentorship and Virtual Reality to Prepare and Sustain STEM Teachers in Rural High-Need Schools.” The initiative aims to provide insight into the successful recruitment, preparation, and retention of STEM professionals pursuing careers in education.

Through this funding, Concord University will deliver an online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) curriculum and implement a comprehensive mentorship program using a virtual platform. This platform will connect mentors with Teaching Fellows (TFs), develop and maintain a Professional Learning Community (PLC), and incorporate Virtual Reality (VR) technology within the MAT curriculum. Additionally, the university will use data management software for ongoing mentoring and tracking of TFs as they take up STEM teaching positions in rural high-need P-12 schools.

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